As soon as Ahmed and Ali entered their grandmother’s house, they greeted her warmly with “Assalamo alaikum!” and ran into her arms.

After a few minutes of catching up with each other, Ahmed asked excitedly, barely containing his eagerness, “Naano, can I use your mobile phone today?”

Before Naano could respond, Ahmed’s mother, who was also with them, stepped in and quietly gestured to her mother not to give him the phone. The problem was, Ahmed had become too involved in playing games on the mobile phone. Since his parents had restricted him from using their phones at home, he turned to his grandparents, who would give in to him and let him use their phone. So whenever he visited them, he would use their mobile phone to play games and would spend hours doing so.

Naano suggested that Ahmed and Ali first eat something and spend time with her before asking about the mobile phone. Ahmed agreed, but his mind kept wandering back to the phone. Throughout the day, Ahmed would occasionally ask Naano about the phone, only to be reminded that it was in Naana Abu’s (their grandfather’s) pocket.

As the day went by, Ahmed eventually got busy in other things. When Naana Abu returned home, Ahmed had already forgotten about the phone and soon it was time for the kids to return home.

However, the next week, when Ahmed visited Naano’s house again, and the same conversation ensued. Naano told him that the phone was still in Naana Abu’s pocket. But that day, something unexpected happened.

Suddenly the mobile phone started ringing, and Ahmed’s eyes widened with excitement.

“Naano, the phone is ringing! Where is it? You can’t say that it’s not at home today,” he eagerly asked.

Naano smiled for she was caught hiding the truth, but calmly replied that it was in Naana Abu’s pocket, just as she had said before.

Ahmed was perplexed, but then he started searching for it and found the ringtone coming from behind the door from a shirt, which was hanging on a hook behind it. Ahmed was amazed and applauded Naano’s creativity.

“I knew it Naano! I knew the phone was at home. You’re amazing! I didn’t know you could come up with such a clever hiding spot!” Ahmed exclaimed.

Naano smiled, pleased that she could outsmart the children. As a penalty, Ahmed asked Naano to play a game with him on the mobile, and she agreed. After all, sometimes it’s okay to indulge with children and have some fun. However, Naano was already thinking of a new hiding spot for the mobile phone.

Published in Dawn, Young World, April 19th, 2025